sporadic Nintendo griping

AMN Points at Me

DS Advanced (part of the Advanced Media Network) has a review up of New Super Mario Bros. In it, Matt Green- also the webmaster for PressTheButtons– has a section on the second page called “Game Boy Advance Need Not Apply”, a 3 paragraph allusion to my “‘New’ Super Mario Bros?” article.

I find it funny how people keep trying to justify this game’s intentions when its sole objective was fan service. The point isn’t whether it could or couldn’t run on a GBA, it’s that Nintendo only made it to capitalize on the current DS rage with a nostalgic throwback. Reviewers are also saying it, it’s not “new”.

Listen, i’m not trying to shine a spotlight on myself. I’ve let the NSMB thing go; i really don’t give a shit. (I never expected it to get the publicity it did in the first place.) But, apparently, the faithful haven’t stopped coming at me and i thought it was worth pointing out. I just say this because i’ve been accused of having an ego over it. Seriously though, what other “outspoken people” could Matt be referring to?

However you may think, I don’t care about internet recognition. Gimme a fuckin break, please. This is blogging, not film.

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“[the game’s] sole objective was fan service. The point isn’t whether it could or couldn’t run on a GBA, it’s that Nintendo only made it to capitalize on the current DS rage with a nostalgic throwback.”

Fan service makes the DS money. The more money the DS makes the longer it can service fans, be it using unique features of the system or not. It sounds like your upset (or maybe just questioning) the business side of this decision rather than criticize the actual game. I would agree with you to a point, but from a business side I would still release NSMB on DS, though the GBA could handle it. I’m buying regardless, but Nintendo wants this game to move DS units, which it will.

At first, it’s about criticizing from the business standpoint, but after playing it, i can feel the utter lack of development love this game received. If i were in their shoes, i’da released the game, too. But what seperates me from them is I can desire a better effort without the repercussions of maintaning good business.

Understandably, the DS needs to make money for Nintendo– that’s what it exists for. Yet this kind of fan service is almost self-defeating. By catering to (the majority of) their fans wants, they’ve put out a game that doesn’t strive to be anything more than an upgrade of Super Mario 1. As Iwata himself said last week, that’s what their competition does- satisfy the fans rather than surprise the fans. In a sense, New Mario Bros is evidence of hypocrisy.

What sucks is i’m in the minority. No one ever listens to the minority.

I think this whole debate is retarted. Its a dam game. As long as you enjoy thats what matters. If you dont then thats were you debate how to make it better. The only business about it is the price. Is it worth what you paid for.

You can’t justify it the way you put it, I-man. This is for the fans (hardcore types)– if there were more hardcore type games out there on DS, maybe i’d agree with your point a little more. Then again, this is a Nintendo. Developed. Mario. Platformer. If you’re gonna give your fans a nostalgic handjob, at least put some substance in all that style.

Why not have a fan servicing game? Because it’s a sloppy effort. It’s about as fun as SMB 1 was, which in this modern age doesn’t fly. Mario 1 holds up because we know the circumstances around it when it was released in ’85; we can forgive it for not having physics, normal mapped textures, and volumetric lighting to concentrate on the fun gameplay mechanics. NSMB just took that, added 2 lameass powerups, a couple Mario 64 moves, made it 3D, and shipped it. Instead of taking steps of progress, they jogged in place. Then they took a couple steps back by shortening the levels (and the overall game) and left it almost devoid of Mario/Miyamoto charm. Shiggs probably never met with the team making this game. Apparently, neither did Koji Kondo.

this is my last post on this topic. but thats obvious which is the better game. what your saying is you like one face lift better than the other. im saying thats cool but the nsmb is a deeper game then mkds which makes the nsmb face lift better theres just more to it.

Deeper why? Cause it has 80 levels? 80 short-ass levels that are on average unimaginative?

The point i’m making with the MKDS-NSMB comparison is that MKDS ended up being a much better and funner game because it was designed to be the next entry of the series. NSMB is for nostalgic purposes only, since it basically upgrades Super Mario 1 and puts it on DS with uninspired elements. It’s almost a mash-up of the past games, combining Mario 64 and Sunshine moves/enemies, SMW’s world map, and SMB1’s basic foundation.

Mario Kart DS is fan service in the traditional sense, aka it’s a sequel in a popular series. NSMB is fan service in a different way because it was evidently made purely to yank on your retro heartstrings. The fact that MKDS was so much better is proof of it. 80 levels don’t make a game deep. Or fun.

One game of these 2 is newer than the other, i’ll let you guess which.

i got respect for u mr. rollin. you have well thought out answers. we could post for days on this subject but im done. how about you tell what you like about the game. so far i enjoy it. what do you mean by one being newer than the other???

The newer one being MKDS cause it actually added new elements to the series– new boosting, useful map, new tracks, missions, wifi: the works.

I dislike that NSMB relies so much on past elements and level designs instead of pushing forward. The fireflower is the most significant powerup, again. The mini and mega shrooms add almost nothing. The 3D controls feel a bit off, unperfected. Newer moves like the wall jump and the butt stomp aren’t put to use like they should be and therefore feel like they don’t fit in Mario’s 2D world (the butt stomp is somewhat used, though, so it’s not that bad). That blue koopa shell is next to useless; it actually hinders you in some situations. Game’s also too damn easy and midget short. To summarize, it’s patterned after the first SMB too much.

What i do like is the great visuals, but they F’ed up by not making many interesting level designs. The music isn’t as catchy or fun as it was in the old ones, but it’s decent. Some levels actually make you flex your platforming muscles once in awhile, which is good. The appearances of some enemies from the 3D Mario games is nice. On the other side of that coin, all the boss battles are horrible (so far. I’m in world 8). 3 hits and they’re dead? Jesus Rodriguez that’s gay. Inventory, compared to Mario 3’s, is a waste. You can hold 5 items, and only 2 are handy (shroom and fire). To cap that all off, the minigames are either from Mario 64 DS or based off them.

Ppl that are saying this is better than Mario 3, World, or Yoshi’s Island are tripping on some old-school meth. That reminds me, i bet you Yoshi’s Island 2 on DS will be better than this game. Lots better. Hell, i bet Super Princess Peach is better than this.

OK, Rollin, now that I’ve spent a little more time with the game I’m beginning to see your point. However, it would have been simpler to say that NSMB is too easy, especially for SMB veterans! Yep, it’s a quickie. A beautiful-looking quickie.

Having said that, I still liked the graphics and I would love to see a game use them in a more thoughtful design. Also, the mini games, although they get old quickly, reminded me of the Game & Watch series.

I agree with that, too. It gets fun as you try to get everything. Still, i can’t overlook the uninspired levels and enemies. And for the record, Nintendo has quietly admitted that this is Super Mario Bros 1 “revamped”. Therefore, they themselves agree with me damnit.